Single-delivery match-safe.



M. L. WEEKS.

SINGLE DELIVERY MATCH SAFE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 25. mm

1,241,456. PatentedSept. '25, 1917.

INVENTOR WITNESSES ATTORNEY I i i c 1 a M 4 i w. A a a a ,a

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MARTIN L. WEEKS, OF SIARTANBURG, SOUTH CAROLINA.

SINGLE-DELIVERY MATCH-SAFE.

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' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 25, 1917.

Application filed May 25, 1917. Serial No. 170,970,

To all whom it may concern:

' a citizen of the United States, residing at Spartanburg, in the county of Spartanburg and State of South Carolina, have invented new and useful Improvements in Single- Delivery Match-Safes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is an improved match safe or cabinet adapted for delivering matches one at a time and to hence promote the economical use of matches, the object of the invention being to provide an improved device of this character which is simple in construction, which can be readily operated, and which is not likely to get out of order.

The invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of devices hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view of a single delivery match safe constructed and arranged in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same, with a portion removed.

Fig. 3 is a detailed horizontal sectional view of the same.

Fig. 4 is a detailed longitudinal sectional view of the same.

The match safe or cabinet is here shown as of oblong rectangular form, comprising a base 1, side walls 2, a rear end wall 3 and a forwardly and downwardly inclined bottom 4 which is spaced a suitable distance above the base. The top 5 of the match safe is preferably glass and is slidable in grooves 6 in the opposing sides of the walls 2. The front 7 is hreferably also of glass and is vertically slidable in grooves 8 in said walls 2. The front upper corners of the side walls are braced by a bolt rod 9 and a bar 10 is secured between the front ends of said walls, at their lower sides.

A cylindrical match delivery roller 12 is provided with a groove 13 adapted for the reception of matches singly. Said roller is arranged between the front portions of the walls 2 and at a point above the base 1 and so that the upper side of the roller is higher than the lower end of the inclined bottom. The lower edge of the front is arranged immediately above the roller. The axle 14 of theroller is mounted in bearing openings in the side walls 2 and is provided with a crank 15 at one end to enable the roller to be manually operated. On its lower side the roller is provided at apoint near one end with a tappet pin 16 which operates in a longitudinal slot 17 in the upper side of the base. A spring 18 is secured on the base and has an arm 19 which engages the said tappet pin and serves to normally hold the roller in initial position with the groove 13 of the roller outside and slightly in from; of the glass front of the safe or cabinet.

The matches in the safe or cabinet pile up against the roller as shown in Fig. 1 011 the inclined bottom and against the front. In order to obtain a match the roller must be partly turned, against the tension of the spring to arrange the match receiving groove under the matches, one of which drops into said groove. Upon releasing the crank the spring and tappet pin coact to return the roller to initial position, such partial turning of the roller causing its groove with the match therein to be arranged without and in front of the safe and enabling the match to be then taken out from said groove of the roller, as will be understood. The rear end of the slot 17 is engaged by the tappet pin to limit the forward or match delivery movement of the roller, as will be understood. The front wall being arranged immediately above the roller acts as a scraper on the roller and prevents more than one match from remaining in the roller groove, thus insuring that the matches can be only obtained one at a time and hence promoting the economical use of the matches.

While I have herein shown and described a preferred form of my invention I would have it understood that changes may be made in the form, proportion and construction of the several parts, without departing from the spirit of my invention and within the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, I claim A match safe of the class described having an inclined bottom, a base above which the inclined bottom is spaced, the said base being provided with a slot, a wall having its lower edge spaced above the base and. also spaced from the lower end of the in clined bot-tom, a roller mounted for oscillatory movement and arranged with its upper side in the space between the lower ends of the inclined bottom and said wall, said roller having a match receiving groove arranged When the roller is ini'nitial position Without the said Wall and When said roller is in another position in rear of said Wait and Within the match safe, said roller having a tappet pin arranged to operate in the slot in the base, and a spring secured on the base and'having an arm engaging said tappet pin and normally holding the roller.

with its groove Without and in frontof said Wall and its tappet pin at the rear end of 10 said slot, the end of'thesaid slot forming stops'to coact With the tappet pin and limit the extent of movement of the roller.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

-MARTIN L. WEEKS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of. Patents Washington,-,D. 0. 

